Among Giants

Having little of the Oregon Coast Highway remaining for today, it didn’t take long to get agriculturally inspected and then cross back into California.  Straight out of a California Tourism Board commercial, the temperatures very quickly rose to 105F, a much appreciated welcome gesture.  It was even a pleasure to pump my own gas once again, as Oregon law prohibits doing so.

I relied on as much of Highway 1 as exists and resorted to 101, where it does not.  Slow and indirect, describes my plan for the remaining days.  More coastal beauty continued to unfold with each bend in the road.

Passing through Scotia, I felt the westward pull to the Lost Coast, but balanced that against the very late arrival it would have inflicted and decided to point south.  I’d rather spend the time among the giants along the Avenue of the Giants where many Pacific Redwoods live.  When in that neighborhood my favorite lunch spot is the Eternal Tree Café.  The food was as good as ever and they’re happy to deliver it to a table in their grove.

 

The Zen of the redwoods followed along with me for 2 hours, today.

Here’s a 1 minute video taste:

 

The afternoon fuel stop was in Garberville, home to some of Humboldt County’s most skilled marijuana producers and processors.  Youthful cleaners spend their off-hours roaming the streets and I assume that the growers remain hidden, vigilantly guarding their crops.  During the fuel stop I met a nice couple riding an Indian Chieftain whose travels originated in New York and would continue on through Calgary AB on their way back home.

Highway 1 westward, from Leggett to the coast, has some of the best undulating twisties that CA has to offer.  Tempted to GoPro it, I reconsidered, not knowing if all viewers would have Dramamine on hand.  Suffice it to say that it’s about 40 miles of a motorcyclist’s dream.

Today ended in Fort Bragg with some good chicken and a great hot fudge sundae.  Santa Cruz is the target for tomorrow.